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OPINION

Mail 12-6: Note to APD, body cameras

Just over two months ago we buried my step father (Michael Fisher), a 90-year-young man who took great pride in having been a retired Alexandria Police officer. Even without our asking, numerous retired officers attended the viewing along with patrolmen stopping by for a few minutes to pay their respects.

The next day, at his country church in Deville, three other officers attended the funeral in dress uniform while three motorcycle officers waited outside to escort him to the burial site. Again, we made no special request of the police department.

What this showed me was the care and respect of current officers and patrolmen for their former brethren who served the public with honor. In collecting his personal belongings I found all of his police badges he had ever worn.

There are good and honorable men and women serving this police department now as others have done in the past. Although neighborhood patrolling, where you know the first names of the officers who serve the area you live in, is somewhat in the past, don't forget that there are still some good men and women in those cars. People that you would enjoy knowing better.

Gary Childress

Pineville

Let body cameras tell tale

The massive public reaction to the tragic deaths of three black teens at the hand of white police officers has led to a national call for use of body cameras to record and prevent any future mistreatment of suspects.

There is ample precedent. Animal protection activists have used body cameras to document egregious atrocities and safety violations by workers in the meat, dairy, and egg industries. The resulting videos have led to a number of corrective actions, as well as felony convictions, meat recalls, and even a $500 million civil settlement.

How ironic then that agribusiness interests in seven states (Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, and Utah) have now enacted "ag-gag" laws imposing severe penalties for using body cameras in their agricultural facilities. The language is typically drafted by the anti-consumer American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).

Let's hope that other vested interests do not impose similar restrictions on the use of body cameras by law enforcement officers.

Luther Lathley

Alexandria

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